Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

I'm looking at buying a Cafe Racer/Top Gun. I will keep it on the trailer. I have a 2500HD Dmax, I know I need a Class 5 hitch, but is it possible to also use a weight distributing setup with a boat trailer? It looks like all the trailers don't have the proper A- Arm to make this setup possible? I know they make an "Tongue Pole Adaptor" but are they available in a heavy duty setup capable of handling approx 15,000 Lbs.? Help!

Thanks,

M

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Yes.

Page 1:
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=78812

Page 2:
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...2&page=2&pp=30

Unless you are looking at a heavy steel trailer, a TG will not be approaching 15K pounds. I have a 37' Active Thunder; total weight 12,500 pounds with fuel. The pictures in the linked threads tell a lot.

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Thanks Sydways! One other thing I'm trying to understand. Reese's Class 5 hitch is a 2.5" receiver and is rated at 12,000 lbs weight carrying and 14,000 weight distributing, There strongest weight distributing hitch is 1,700 max tongue weight, 17,000 max trailer weight, but in this instance you are limited to the 14k of the receiver (the weakest point, assuming stronger or equal ball, shank). HOWEVER, Putnam's XCR is a 2" reciever and is rated at 15,000 weight carrying and 16,000 weight distributing!!! It's only a 2 inch? Now because it's a 2" Reese's 1,700 weight distributing hitch can't be used because it needs a 2.5" receiver! So even though you have to use the strongeset availabe 2" weight distributing setup which is 12,000lbs as far as I can find? I'm very confused can someone please clear this up for me or affirm what I've find and advise me on the best route to go from here?

Thanks,

M

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

You "should" be able to buy a slide in mount that fits a 2.5" Reese receiver that you can bolt a weight distributing ball mount to.

Personally, I think the Putnam XDR 2" receiver is adequate. The Reese Titan-V 2.5" is gondola huge, but you can't have too much hitch. Perhaps go for a 2.5" Reese Titan-V reciever, and purchase a sleeve adapter to slide a 2" ball mount into it.

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

I think you're misunderstanding what I'm saying: The strongest hitch on the market is a 2" and the strongest weight distributing setup is made for a 2.5", thus they can be interchanged as a sleeve wouldn't do anything here. Another way of saying this is if you buy the strongest hitch you can't use the strongest weight distribution setup and vice versa.

If i get the Putnam 2" hitch with weight ratings of 15k /16k and then go with the strongest WD available for it at 12k/14k what will happen when I unhook the WD to go down the ramp/put the boat in the water/pull it out? Will I put myself in any serious risk of breaking the shank as it will then only have a 12k capacity?

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Ah, that clears things up a bit.

I always back mine into the yard/garage without the WD bars installed, as well as up and down the launch ramp. That shank/ball mount is rated to cover anything you are going to do at the ramp. Its rated to carry any of the weight placed on it when in WD 'mode' with the bars installed going over highway bumps and such at speed; imagine the forces involved.

You will be fine with the bars removed for trailer maneuvering.


P.S.

The Titan-V 2.5" is built MUCH more stout than the Putnam XDR. I won't go on record as saying its underrated, but if you can bring up side-by-side pictures, judge for yourself. Its a behemoth.

Be aware, the Putnam XDR will tuck CLOSER to your bumper on your truck than factory. Mine is about 1 inch closer (higher). The Reese Titan-V hitch is a tad farther (lower) from your bumper, but I am not sure by how much.

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

you might want to take a look at the "curt" hitches replaced the junk hitch on my Ford with a curt and have good luck...BZ

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Be Careful With The Wd Hitches Because They Will Not Allow Surge Brakes To Activate If This Is Your Brake Set-up. My Boat Is 11k Dry And Aluminum Tri-axle Trailer And It Towed Perfect With My 2500 Hd Duramax And Now Am Towing It With 2500 Suburban. I Used The Class V Hitch And The 2 1/2 Inch Receiver. No Squat Or Other Problems.

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Wrong info, again.

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Sydwayz,

Where did you buy your pole tongue adaptor? What brand is it? What are it's dimensions? Did you have any problem bolting it to your pole tongue? I noticed you mentioned something about having to notch one of the I beams but I wasn't sure if that was for the pole tongue adaptor or for the additional jackstand you added? I just bought a boat and trailer and have to drive up to get. Being that it's 1500 miles away I want to be prepared for everything when I get there.

Thanks!
M

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

I have a idea.....why don't you guys buy the correct trucks next time around.....your always trying to buck the system :D

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

I had a correct truck. I had a correct hitch. I prefered towing with a WD setup. It rides that much better.


miamioffshore... ALL THE INFO YOU NEED is in the threads that I linked above, but here it is again.

http://www.hitchfinder.com/trunnion_WD_hitch.htm

Seriously, pony up the $20 bucks to see the pics. Its worth it.

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Sywayz, I've seen the pics, but I still don't know if you needed to alter the trailer or to make the pole tongue adaptor fit as your pictures can't talk! Your pictures don't tell me what the dimensions of the pole tongue adaptor itself are. I know what size tongues it fits and my tongue will fit but i need to know the dimension of the adaptor itself to know if it will fit between the jackstand the surge brake controller.

Thanks again

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

I mounted my PTA below the trailer tongue, as shown in the pics. With the way the surge brake controller configures the height of the trailer tongue, this made things line up perfectly for my application. I had to notch the flat plate that bolts the two I-beams together just slightly, to slide the tongue jack(s) back to allow enough room for the PTA to fit. By adding a second jack, it reduces trailer twist when on the stand. I don't have the measurements, as the boat is in winter storage, but the retailer should be able to get them for you.

As far as your tow home... go ahead and upgrade your hitch on your truck before you go. Get either the Putnam XDR or the Reese Titan-V (yes its 2.5"). These hitches do allow you to be legal as to raise the weight rating of the Weight Carrying capacity of your truck to that EQUAL to what the weight rating is when using a Weight Distribution setup.

Let me state that a different way...
Your factory hitch is rated for 7K WC and 12K WD.
Upgrade to the Putnam XDR hitch which is rated for 15K WC.
By bolting that to your truck, you now are OK to tow 12K as WC.
This is per a GM representative and Putnam, as another OSO member verified in one of the old threads.

I am pulling the boat out of storage next week, so I can measure anything you may need.

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Thanks for your help, I definetly plan on upgrading the hitch. What brand weight distribution setup did you go with, I'm thinking maybe I'll go with the BlueOx as it's rated to 15k and claims to have some sway control ability despite having no extra sway control hookups, which as you know are impossible on a pole tongue adaptor setup as there's no where else to hook them up to.

Thanks again,

M

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

I have the Reese Trunnion setup.

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Incorrect info, check out this site. I use this setup towing 13500lbs it works great.

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/produc...patibility.php

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Boatman,

That works on your boat trailer? I would think those spring bars wouldn't be able to hookup due to the pole tongue? Please elaborate, as I looked at that hitch but didn't think it could be setup due to pole tongues and that particular setup not being able to do its thing with the use of a pole tongue adaptor?

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Sorry For My Vague Comment, I Should Have Clarified That I Had A Past Wd Application That Was Not Universal For All Trailers And It "may" Not Allow The Surge Brakes To Work Properly. I Went From A Steel Heritage Trailer To A Aluminum Tri-axle. I Should Have Been More Clear, I Just Know That It Is Frustrating To Order A Part And It Not Work For Your Application Without Expensive/extensive Modification In Some Cases, Especially With All The New Custom Trailers Available Today.

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Miami-
You don't need to get into all this...
That 2500HD will have no trouble with the tounge weight.
The hitch is fine. Though uphrading to the XDR is certainly not a bad idea.
I have had 21,000 on the stock hitch on the 3500. Yes, believe it or not...21,000lbs.

Me.. I wouldn't waste time with the wd bars and adaptors, and chains....

The balanced boat won't have much tongue weight.

Send me an email or call me any time.
[email protected]

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

They have a bracket that bolts to pole tongue. It's a very easy setup and makes towing a dream. If you want picture let me know.

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/produc...patibility.php

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

I know about pole tongue adaptors? But are you seeing Equalizer has a special adaptor that gives it some rails to ride on?

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Ditto!!!!! My 2500 Duramax crewcab tows my Top Gun just fine. No air bags or wd bars needed

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Really?!? I was in Josh's the other day, he has airbags, no WD and I didn't like the way it felt from the passenger seat, couldn't imagine driving 1500 miles like that.

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Yes they do:

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Yea....how did that feel.. :rolleyes: .....have fun with all the wd cover up I am going to get swung off the road prior to rear ending someone problems....go buy a 4500 or something.....quit trying to rig it!.....find a used kodiak for 10 g.....put a hauler bed on it.....any time you have to put this garbage on your trucks....your compensating for lack of truck.....I have not been in this section for awhile....no wonder. :D

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

In my best Beavis impersonation...

"Ummmmm, OK?"

Re: Who uses Weight Distribution Hitch Setup?
 

Fyi, I Was In Contact With Equalizer Hitches And They Do Not Reccomend Their System With Certain Brake Actuators For Surge Brakes. I Also Called The Actuator Company And They State That They Need Over 4 Inches Of Surge To Be Effective And More Like 6. They Were Pretty Strongly Against Using The W/d Application. I Believe Mine Was The Dico Model 20 Acuator Which Is One Of The More Common Ones Out There.